Katcloudshepherd

Yes, I do the Low Carb High Fat, (LCHF), BUT my bad cholesterol was elevated in my most recent fasting lab work at my primary care doctor's office. I find the LCHF helps me lose weight BUT I may have a genetic predisposition to higher cholesterol. I'm going to cut the fat out and still do low carb and see what my next lab work shows. She didn't put me on statins because my "good cholesterol" was so high and my blood sugars were excellent. My liver and kidney function were great too. I REALLY don't ever want to take statins. I've done very little research and some people claim they are poisonous. I just don't want to go on ANY MORE MEDICATION. I had this surgery to become healthy and I would rather do it through diet, exercise and behavior modification and not chemicals which may have an impact on my liver. Blessings, Kathleen

Very nice article. Thank you for being so candidly honest. Takes courage to do that. Blessings, Kathleen

Hey very pretty lady! Congratulations Blessings, Kathleen

CowgirlJane, Congratulations! I know what you're talking about. In my "fat" head, I sometimes forget that I'm now more of a regular size. I keep having to put clothes back on the rack because they're too big and I've forgotten--I don't wear that size anymore . Kathleen

Thank you so much for the link! I'm going to have to make this. Blessings, Kathleen

My heart aches for you and all the suffering you have endured. I truly hope you can gain your health back. I think you are correct in your theory that extra large patients are treated differently than "normal" sized patients. I wish you had some legal recourse to go after the doctor that did the surgery. This surgeon should be held accountable for what he did to you and prevented from doing this to any other patient. Again, I am so sorry for all the pain and emotional trauma you have suffered. Thank you so much for sharing this information as I know it had to take a great amount of courage to do so. May you find a way to better health and soon. Kathleen

I agree with B-52. It only took ONE time where I ate too much and threw up to cure me of EVER trying that again! I got the slimies once too. I don't know if it happens with lap bands or other WLS. It's where you eat too much and a mucous like substance comes up. Maybe twice is enough to create an aversion to eating too much? I'd like to see more research into the gut flora related to cravings. I believe my gut flora has changed since surgery. I don't crave sweets like I did before surgery--now I want savory, salty and high Protein foods. Thank you for sharing the information with us! Blessings, Kathleen

Love all the great ideas! I forgot to add to my comment that I put some coconut manna in my oatmeal and stevia along with the Protein powder and a little milk. I use the GENEPRO unflavored protein powder that I order from Amazon. It is a smaller scoop for 30 grams of protein and the powder is finely ground. It does add a slight milk like taste to what you put it in but that works well with oatmeal. You could add walnuts for crunch, chia seeds for crunch etc. Have a good one everybody, Kathleen

Consult your surgeon for their advice first. I was able to take my Zoloft right after surgery in pill form--BUT again, check with your surgeon--everyone probably has different protocols. I purchased a 3 month supply of chewable bariatric vitamins so I used them up first. I was allowed to take capsule supplements after a month. Again, check with your doctor, they may have different guidelines. Congratulations on your surgery and I wish you great success! Blessings, Kathleen

Congratulations!!!! So happy for you Blessings, Kathleen

I can so relate to your comment of: "What I still struggle with is that I feel like I'm still a fat girl who has managed to figure out a way to fake it." Lord, that is me in spades. I've come to realize that people who never knew the larger me don't have the context of how far I've come. That's OK. I know how far I've come. I actually have a note taped to my bedside lamp that says: "Fake It Till You Make IT" "Make up your mind to be happy". That way I see it every morning when I turn my light on. I firmly believe in daily affirmations too. I am a worthwhile human being who DESERVES to be healthy and happy. I've basically had to re-program my brain. I was raised with negative bad programing--"bad code". I've worked for decades to change myself--FOR THE BETTER. I hope y'all have a good one, Kathleen

When it's hot, I do a cold breakfast shake. I use milk and unflavored Protein powder with some thawed frozen fruit. I usually just use the fruit juice from the frozen fruit. I drink my 1/2 bottle of Kombucha every morning to keep my digestive track healthy and moving. Now that it's cooling off, I'll switch to Hot drinks or oatmeal. This morning I had a low sugar hot chocolate with unflavored Protein Powder and my 1/2 bottle of Kombucha. I'm going to bring in some low sugar oatmeal tomorrow and mix protein powder in it with a dash of milk. I rarely have time in the morning to cook and eat eggs. It's just easier for me to grab something quick that I can carry to work and prepare there. I'm so lucky that my job allows me to eat at my desk and we have a microwave. Blessings, Kathleen

Hello, I didn't have a pureed stage. What if you put unflavored Protein powder in it? Then it's not a low protein food. Still a grain though and high in carbs double . I ate it when I was a child. I'll have to look at the carb content and see if it's too high even with unflavored Protein Powder. When I keep my carbs low--my appetite is less strong. Blessings, Kathleen

HappygoSusan, So happy for you to fit in a size 6!! WOW. I feel your pain in trying to find pants long enough. I am 6 feet tall and usually always end up ordering my pants on line. Once in a while I score a pair of pants and Goodwill or another thrift store. REALLY love it when I do. Blessings, Kathleen

TatorTot, Reading your post makes me so grateful I am blessed with a job with private insurance. I am a vet and am extremely grateful for that private insurance that allowed me to have this life changing surgery. Honestly, I don't know where to begin but to tell you YOU ARE WORTH the cost of this surgery. If my insurance didn't cover the surgery, I would have paid cash, taking out a loan if I had to. I was even looking into going to Mexico if my insurance didn't cover and I had to pay for it. Granted, I'm closer to Mexico and the traveling would have been easier for me. I went through the VA's so called weight loss program years ago. I've done everything to lose weight. Took Phentramine, (legal prescription speed) and lost 60 pounds. My blood pressure went so high I had to be put on blood pressure pills! Then as soon as I stopped--that 60 lost turned into an 80 pound regain. I absolutely HATE the archaic attitude at the VA. If being obese were so damn easy to treat and overcome--we wouldn't have to have 85% of our stomachs removed to help deal with being obese. I had a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, (VSG), to TREAT my obesity. I think what I find most offensive in the medical profession is this attitude that we just have to eat less and move more. This is a multi-faceted DISEASE. Just like cancer, heart disease or any other. It's NOT A MATTER OF CHOICE. Would anyone choose to be treated the way obese people are? By total strangers. My life is almost 180 degrees different than before surgery, or is that 360 degrees? I can't remember which one is a total turn around. I went through years of counseling to try and lose the weight, thinking it was attributed to childhood trauma. To fix my head, I HAD TO FIX my stomach. I can no longer stuff feelings down with food. I have depression and take Zoloft to deal with it. Since I've lost the weight, my depression has gotten much better. I will admit I went through a dark time when I had lost the weight and had to adjust to this new life but I AM WORTH IT. I used counseling, exercise and my faith to get through. PLEASE, PLEASE, don't give up the battle. Explore your options for self pay. I don't know if you want the surgeons at the VA doing the surgery. They probably don't do that many of them and frankly, I wanted someone who would be able to do the surgery in their sleep to do mine. I wish you luck and I'll keep you in my prayers, Kathleen

pinkbunies, YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So happy for you It's even cooling off in South Texas!!!! I wait all summer for this weather. When the heat index is 105, I so look forward to it ONLY being 80 degrees! That's something you hear in places like San Antonio and Lavernia--"it's ONLY going to be 80 today!" Warm for y'all in the north but comfortable for most of us here. Hang in there with the coffee. I went off caffeine two weeks before surgery and for three months after surgery. Now, I have to be careful because coffee is like speed for me! I'm sure it's because of the weight loss. I gave up sodas a year or two before surgery. Diet soft drinks are highly acidic. You can use them to clean your toilet bowl! That's how low the pH is. I saw a video on You Tube using regular soda. I know because of my job that diet soda is even more acidic than the regular chock full of sugar ones. I actually bought a cheap regular soda and tried it and cleaned my toilet! You pour the soda in the bowl and let it sit for about a 1/2 hour or more. Then you clean and flush. Sodas may be cheaper by volume than toilet bowl cleaner. I haven't done a price comparison. Blessings, Kathleen

JCP, Here in the South we have a saying that conveys compassion for those that are just too ignorant for their own good: "Bless their HEART!." You handled the situation well. Don't know if I would have had the class not to make a comment. CONGRATULATIONS on your success!!!!! Blessings, Kathleen

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Pkdvm, Happy Birthday to you! AND MANY MORE!!!!!! Blessings, Kathleen

RJ'S/beginning, Lady, you have outdone yourself! Beautiful writing and so very true. I wish you a healthier fall and winter. Blessings, Kathleen

I concentrate on eating Protein first. IF I have any room left, then I go for non-starchy vegetables. Carbs are now a dessert item for me. I can only indulge on an irregular basis. If I eat them---I CRAVE them. Don't want to go down that road. That's what made me have to have the surgery. Blessings, Kathleen

auntiemel, Great NSV! Haven't had a visit from "Aunt Flo" for going on two years Don't miss the broad either So happy for you!!!!!! Blessings, Kathleen

Comfy_Blue, I couldn't agree more with RJ'S/beginning. Since I've lost weight, the people I see every day at the six story office building I work at treat me so much better. One person however seems to have taken an extreme dislike to me. Don't know why and fortunately, I don't work with her so I could give a rat's pattotie how she feels about me. I think like RJ said, they do see you as a superior and they are subordinates and don't want to cross any lines which would bring distress. I hope you find a happy resolution to your dilemma. Blessings, Kathleen

QueenBeatrix, I am closing in on a year from surgery. My life has totally changed FOR THE BETTER. I used to take prescription Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, (NSAIDS) TWICE a day. I used to dread having to stand in line at the grocery store because my back and knees would hurt like Hades. I used to be only able to enjoy watching TV sitting in my Lazy Boy. Moving used to hurt. The only way i could get any exercise was in a pool. i used to look at myself in the mirror and be disgusted with myself. NOW I have trouble keeping clothes on my ever shrinking body!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NOT a complaint. Just a statement of fact. I can walk around the parking garage on breaks and during lunch and ENJOY it I'VE BEEN CALLED SKINNY!!!!!!!!!!!!! for Pete's (or anyone else) sake! Men have lingering and much more lengthy looks at me . I have a husband I dearly love and HOPEFULLY he will have the surgery soon. It's not all sunshine and unicorn farts though. I went through some dark months adjusting to this new body. I used my faith, exercise and counseling to get through them. I'll say this--I'D DO IT AGAIN in a heartbeat to live the life I have now. I am now LIVING not existing from the time I shoveled food in my mouth to the next time I shoveled food into my mouth. All I can say is b-r-e-a-t-h-e. Take it one day at a time and have confidence in the medical technology we have in 2014. I truly hope you have a routine easy surgery and an easy recovery. Blessings, Kathleen

boccob81, I use it only on the areas I have had the Venus Freeze on. My neck, arms and right now I'm getting the treatments on my legs so I apply it to my legs as well. My skin seems to be firming on my legs--don't know if it's the Venus Freeze or lotion or both. Blessings, Kathleen

FABULOUS Article. Thank you so much for posting the link. I drink 1/2 bottle of Kombacha a day and it sure seems to help my depression. Psychosomatic? maybe. I'll just keep drinking my Kombacha. I think if our "gut" is healthy or unhealthy it has so much to do with our overall health. Blessings, Kathleen